Chapter 2: Life's Simple Pleasures (Jan. 2003)

POV: Hermione

Hot and sticky, that's how I felt sitting inside at the Burrow, celebrating the last few days before the school holiday was over. Finally unable to take the heat I struggled to push myself up, refusing my husband's offer to help. He helped anyway and quietly followed me outside.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay dear?" My husband asked me for what felt like the millionth time, as her wrapped his arms around me.

"No. I'm not okay, I'm hot and uncomfortable. I'm huge, everything hurts. I can't even get up from the couch without help." I started crying letting the hormones get the best of me.

Pulling me to sit on his lap he brushed a stray hair from my face looking at me with such love I almost felt bad for yelling at him.

"How about we say our good byes, go home and I'll run you warm bath, I'll let you be and go get your favorite take away?" He nuzzled my hair rubbing small circles in my back.

"You'd do that for me?" I sniffled whipping the tears from my eyes.

"Anything for you and our 2 beautiful growing little miracles." Helping me stand up and return inside we made our excuses, said our good byes and flooed to our little cottage Dublin.

Severus was only gone for a few moments when it hit me. Its January 9th…I forgot my husband's birthday. Searching the cabinets franticly I cursed myself for forgetting and then began cursing more because we had already cleared out everything in preparation for returning to Hogwarts.

Taking a deep breath I slide into my warm boots, thankful Severus went to London to get dinner for us.

"Okay babies, looks like we're taking a walk." And with this we set out to the story to buy a cake mix feeling like the worst wife.

With just enough time to spare thanks to magic, I had baked my husband a small little cake and frosted it before he could return.

"You were supposed to be resting. What's this on your face?" Severus asked wiping cake mix off my cheek.

"I wanted to bake you a cake." I felt my eyes water. "I forgot your birthday, and I yelled at you."

"Well you know there's still one birthday tradition I would very much like to enjoy still." His face began to light up with a devilish grin.

"No. I'm huge, nothing about this," I exclaimed pointing down at my swollen midsection, "is sexy. None of my sexy bras even fit."

"Its tradition, wife. One I enjoy immensely. I would hate to miss it this year." He's smile grew as he pulled me in close.

"You promise not to laugh?" I asked pouting.

"I promise." He said kissing me as if to seal the deal.

With a groan I ordered him to our room while I went to the bathroom to try and find something to wear. Before giving up and just wrapped myself up in a towel, I slipped on a bra but didn't even attempt to close it.

"Are you ready?" I asked chewing on my lip. "You're just wearing your birthday suit right?"

"The only one I got." His baritone voice carried though the hall.

Lighting the candle on his cake trying my best not to die from embarrassment, I carried it in our room doing my best impression on Marilyn Monroe's Happy Birthday.

"MM...Perfect." My husband purred pulling me down to his lap to and blowing out his candle. "Now I do believe your forgetting one key part, of my birthday tradition."

"No, I refuse to do the dance." I stated flatly watching him set the cake by the bed before pulling us both to lay down with him on top.

"Well we can just skip ahead if you'd like." He kissed my nose before kissing his way down stopping at my chest before I grabbed his arms tight.

"Stop." I watched him look at my confused, normally at this point I was putty in his hands. "My water just broke."

"What..." He whispered shooting up still on the bed "No. No you're not due for another 3 weeks."

"Tell the twins that, now call Poppy and tell her we're coming" I pushed myself up to my elbows watching him start moving in a frenzy getting dressed and trying to find me a night gown to put on.